Tomorrow's Business 4-21-03

Tomorrow’s Business Radio Weekly Update

Title: The First Annual American Business Awards---"The Stevies"

Guests: Michael Gallagher, President, The American Business Awards, www.americanbusinessawards.com

Douglas Beck, Ph.D , Sr.VP of Corporate Development, ICF Consulting, www.icfconsulting.com and

Tina Mayland, VP, Marketing, SAVVIS Communications, www.savvis.net

Date of Live Presentation: April 21, 2002

Time: 4 :00 - 5:00 p.m. on AM1260 WRC (Tomorrow’s Business is aired every Monday).

On Tomorrow’s Business, Mr. Gallagher described how his background in trade and award show management gave him the idea that there should be an all encompassing business awards event to honor American workplace achievement. While the idea occurred to him 10 years ago, it became a reality only thirteen months ago, after a number of high profile business scandals helped portray business in a negative way. "Disappointed in the bad business news, I thought of the millions of people who do their best in companies all over this country." He hopes "The Stevies", called the "Business World’s own Oscars", by the New York Post, will help restore public confidence and investor trust.

Naming the award was tough, recalled Mr. Gallagher. "I started with baby naming books and checked an existing awards register. I searched for names with positive connotations and found the name that worked best was the Greek name Stephanos-meaning crowned." The Stevie award, designed by R.S. Owens, the company responsible for the better known Oscar, Grammy and Emmy awards, is eight pounds of goldplate, crystal and granite. "I’m a little concerned about how the west coast winners will transport this on an airplane," said Mr. Gallagher, "but we wanted something substantial and meaningful---we wanted the recipients to feel the weight."

At the dinner there will be no red carpet and business dress is the appropriate attire. Mr. Gallagher noted that the National Anthem will be sung by a working Mom who sings gospel, a receptionist from a local company. Charles Osgood will be the MC.

The awards honor all types and sizes of companies, and the people behind them. Individuals such as "Best Executive " or "Best Support Staffer" or groups, such as "Best Human Resources" or "Best Marketing Team," are among the categories of winners. Nominations were done online and 80 judges participated nationwide.

Two DC area companies, finalists in three categories, joined Mr. Gallagher on Tomorrow’s Business.

Douglas Beck, Ph.D , Sr.VP of Corporate Development, ICF Consulting, talked about the "Best Corporate website category, and how ICF, a 35 year old, management and policy consultancy with 1000 employees uses and maintains its excellent web site. "We’re thrilled to be a finalist for this award," he said. "It will enhance our customers trust in our site, because an independent party has recognized and honored it." He mentioned four elements needed for great corporate web sites

• The site should reflect the personality and brand of the company.
• Navigation should be quick and easy
• The site should be easy on the eye and look great
• It must be current. Stale sites are a turn-off!

Dr. Beck added that ICF has a full time web editor and a tech staff in addition to enthusiastic company support to keep their 400 pages of information current and relevant to 18,000 monthly users.

Tina Mayland, VP, Marketing, SAVVIS Communications, talked about two categories. Rob McCormack, CEO of SAVVIS is a finalist for "Best CEO" and SAVVIS Customer Service Organization has been named a finalist, as well. "We’re called the network that powers Wall Street, so we support trillions of dollars of stock and bond decisions. These are mission critical applications to which we apply the highest standards."---" This recognition is very gratifying, especially since we are in an industry which is known for poor customer service." "Rob McCormack has made our corporate slogan –‘good enough is not enough’- a management philosophy throughout the company." Ms Mayland added that she hopes Savvis , not the biggest or best known company at the awards dinner, will be "like Adrien Brody, (new name Academy Award winner for Best Actor) against the bigger named Jack Nicholson or Daniel Day-Lewis at the Oscars."